By Burnett Munthali
Four nurses being treated for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus have been discharged from a hospital in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo after recovering from the disease, the World Health Organization said on Sunday.
The announcement marks a rare moment of relief in a region that has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks for more than two decades.
Health workers in Bunia said the nurses had received early diagnosis and intensive supportive care, factors that officials say are critical to survival.
The World Health Organization noted that more recoveries are expected as surveillance and contact tracing expand across affected communities.
Officials emphasized that early detection remains the most effective tool for reducing fatalities in Ebola outbreaks.
The Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007, has a lower fatality rate than the more common Zaire strain but still poses a serious public health threat.
Medical teams in Ituri province have been working to isolate cases and provide treatment in specialized Ebola units.
WHO officials said the response to the current outbreak is intensifying, with additional resources and personnel deployed to eastern Congo.
Community engagement efforts have also been stepped up to counter misinformation and encourage people to seek care at the first sign of symptoms.
The discharge of the four nurses is being hailed as a sign that coordinated medical intervention can save lives even in remote and resource-limited settings.
